jamesdillaman

In response to the question "If a college already has a library, why would it build another one?": My college (University of Cincinnati) has 7 libraries, so.... Bad metaphor. The libraries are specialized for different needs, for example there is a medical library, a sheet music library, a science reference library, etc. I daresay that if you can't see any difference between High Roller and Renegade, then you have not been on a GCI coaster have you? The ride feel is COMPLETELY different, and I'm excited for Valleyfair, as IMO every park could use a GCII coaster, just to round out the collections they have. I would say that any park that builds more wooden coasters is fine by me, except maybe Mt. Olympus and Holiday World, which both could use a decent steel coaster before they build any more wood masterpieces. -James Dillaman

Nice photos, went to Germany, but didn't hit any big cities (or themeparks ) Looks like I've gotta go back. How's the weather there?

Riddlers at least isn't as bad as Chang. And in my experience the coasters look a lot better at SFMM than the ones at SFKK (At the very least paint-wise the rides are kept looking better at SFMM). You're entitled to your opinion, though I may not understand it. -James Dillaman

What school? Moeller? St. X? Summit? -James "just wondering" Dillaman

Title: Improv - Istanbul in F Artists: Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea Album: Rendezvous in New York

Here's some pics from the City Museum in St. Louis. -James Dillaman Wasn't sure that I would make it out of this one... Do NOT look down if you are scared of heights. Me on the plane 5 stories in the air! Giant Ball pit!

Isn't Scream a B&M, also, and SFMM IMO is the best "collection" of B&M's, with my favorite Flying coaster, favorite standup, and a racy, sexy batman clone. Oh yeah, there's some coaster they stuck out in the parking lot, but any park with 4 B&M's is okay in my book. -James Dillaman

Have you no mercy? The drinks are free. The Gatorade on a hot day is a lifesaver. Of course the only reason they ARE free is nobody would drink the pepsi if they had to pay for it.

I'll be interested to see how much the themeing actually looks like the animation. If there isn't a fountain by the two corkscrews I'll feel cheated and used... -James Dillaman

Thank you, I'm glad someone agrees with me -James "Was beginning to wonder" Dillaman

Sorry to go off topic, but has any construction started, beyond just stakes in the ground, any pictures of footers or wood or anything? just wondering, as I haven't seen any. -James Dillaman

Everytime you set foot in Indiana, you're already taking your life into your own hands. They are the state which has the largest active Ku Klux Klan, and the tobacco alone is enough to make you sick. They have some decent wooden coasters, but I wouldn't drink the water. -James Dillaman

Guy, pick me up on your way up, I need those credits also. -James "and bring a jacket, it's cold up north, california boy!" Dillaman

^ Actually tomorrow I wouldn't expect the crowd to be as heavy as during the summer. In my experience CP slows down heavily in the fall, and halloweekends is one of the best times to visit the park. If it is crowded, you can do the entire back of the park first in about an hour and a half or so, then hit the front later after the crowd moves back. MF and Dragster's waits have been pretty consistently around 30 minutes to an hour tops. -James Dillaman

I actually enjoy their rapids ride, and the halloswings are beautiful. -James "They have some decent coasters, too " Dillaman

^ Wow, that settles it, El Toro and Voyage pale next to this airtime machine. Seriously, I'm sure there will be mass floater, GCII always seems to deliver, and this will be a great addition to the park James "Congrats to Valleyfair" Dillaman

Nicely done, I've seen you post on here a couple times and always wondered about your screen name. What style of music did you play in the show? I'm assuming stride or ragtime? I played keyboard once for a 60's show at Dollywood, but only as a month-long sub for their normal guy. Props for actually going out and getting a job playing piano. The gigs I've had here in Cincinnati are fleeting because all the piano bars are going away -James Dillaman

That isn't to say that GCI's aren't good coasters, at least IMO. If all you like is airtime, though, they won't rank very high on your list. Overall ride-wise, I really enjoy Thunderhead and the Kentucky Rumbler (can't decide which one I like better) as my favorite GCI's I've been on (out of the 5 I've been on). This looks.... different, though. Like Joe, I'm not sure about what exactly this ride will deliver, but I'm pretty sure it will be one of the smoothest coasters at Valleyfair. I've also, however, never riden a GCI I didn't enjoy (of the ones with Millenium Flyer trains) so I will reserve my judgement until I actually get ON the coaster. -James Dillaman

^^ GCI airtime is notoriously "floater" air more than the "ejector" air some people seek. I like both kinds, but that is (at least I assume) what many people mean by that. The hills look airtime filled, but GCI uses such smooth arcs that you simply float over the crests, as opposed to the GG hills, which have more exaggerated crests, and therefore more intese airtime. Think the airtime on MF (floater) versus Magnum's return run (Ejector) -James Dillaman

As it always seems, I'm not impressed too much with the CG from GCI for this one. I had similar doubts about Thunderhead and Kentucky Rumbler, but after riding both of these, I was pleasantly surprised. I have a feeling this ride will be the same way. I've never met a GCI I haven't liked, but I guess it COULD happen. Either way, I'll look to getting up there whenever I can get some time off from my new job next summer. I hope official updates can come soon for TPR, like the other new rides. -James "Step up, Valleyfanboys!" Dillaman

^I was more refering to the likelihood of the same thing happening now as slim. After thought, I'd agree that wild thing wasn't really a big secret, but I don't think this is, either. I just said it would be surprising to see plans for a new attraction treated that way, as it wouldn't stay a secret. 10 years ago I wasn't interested in Valleyfair at all, because it was too far a drive from me to really matter what they got, as I couldn't ride it anyway. -James "misunderstood, sorry" Dillaman

^ If anything you should write to them and inform them the person you spoke with on the phone ASSURED you the park would be open that day, because it was closed the day before and you thought ahead enough to call. That is unacceptable in any business, and makes me want to skip this park entirely. Perhaps they will attempt and make it up to you somehow. If they do, I suggest you don't post publicly about it or brag about it, as they will change the way they compensate in the future if people try and take advantage of them. When I had a rainout at Dollywood, and they found out how far I had come, they accomadated me, hopefully they will at the very least give you a raincheck ticket or some free merchandise. -James Dillaman

^ As opposed to someone "normal" on this forum? -James "wackjob and proud of it!" Dillaman

^ That seems highly improbable today. Anyone who worked there who had access to those plans before the release to the public, especially knowing cedar fair, would have had to agree to not spill the secret. And when it comes to secrets, the less people who know - the better. As a ride op at PKI, we had inklings of the new ride, for example when IJ was built, we had heard that premier was going to be the builder, but there were a couple ideas that were rumored to be true, including an addams family coaster. I find it doubtful that the plans themselves would just be hung up on a wall somewhere, if anything was put up it would be art for the new ride or some concept pictures. -James Dillaman

^I believe that the park has gone downhill since I went in May. I heard the press conference for Tatsu and all the hype Shapiro was spewing about improving magic mountain, and I agree it looks like it was just a sound byte to impress the media. The Good PR only holds out so long, though. You have to actually deliver on the promises. I honestly think Six Flags has lost it's sense of direction, what little they had, and the management is confused and overwhelmed with all the problems. I saw this a couple years ago at PKI, and the park was sold shortly after. Perhaps a sale would be beneficial for SFMM, who knows? Time (And These updates ) will tell. -James Dillaman